5 of The Deadliest Hurricanes in U.S History

The American Continent every year receives its fair share of natural calamities. These can range from tornadoes that cause instant damage to blizzards whose effects linger on for weeks. The deadliest phenomenon, however, out of them all has to be the hurricanes. These natural killers hit the eastern coast of United States every year in the summer season. So lets take a look at 5 of the deadliest hurricanes in U.S history.

1. Great Galveston Hurricane

September 8th, 1900

The Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900 hit the port of Galveston, Texas on September 8th. Back then, the highest point in the city of Galveston was only 2.7 m above sea level. The hurricane brought with it waves of over 4.6 m which washed over the entire island. Such absolute destruction was obviously going to result in huge loss of life. And that’s exactly what this hurricane did by taking no less than 8000 lives. The devastation it caused was so severe that authorities had to pass out free whiskey to sustain the men that were collecting and burning the dead. This hurricane was subsequently placed as a Category 4 on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. And despite being a 117 years old, the Great Galveston Hurricane to this day stands as the worst natural disaster ever to hit the United States.

2. Okeechobee Hurricane

September 17th, 1928

This killer unleashed by mother nature made land fall on September 17th near West Palm Beach, Florida with winds of 145 mph (233 km/h). It was recorded as a category 4 on the shores of Miami. It was however a category 5 while passing through the islands of Puerto Rico. With such high velocity winds, catastrophe was unavoidable as waves 20 feet (6.1 m) swept inland. The Okeechobee Hurricane claimed the lives of 2500 people in the U.S while its over all casualties climbed up to 4000, thus making it the second deadliest hurricane in U.S history.

3. Hurricane Katrina

August 29th, 2005

Hurricane Katrina was the largest and 3rd strongest hurricane ever recorded to hit the U.S. It made landfall on August 29 in the state of Louisiana. By the time the hurricane was done battering the city of New Orleans, almost 80 percent of the city was underwater. The final death toll was around 1800, primarily in Louisiana and Mississippi. Hurricane Katrina also caused an economic damage of around a 100$ billion, making it the costliest hurricane in U.S history.

4. Cheniere Caminada Hurricane

October 2, 1893

The 1893 hurricane of Cheniere Caminada was a category 4 hurricane that hit the coast of Louisiana on October 2nd. At its peak strength, wind speeds of 135 mph were recorded. The initial storm surge claimed the lives 779 people out of the town’s 1500 population and a grand total of 2000 lives. The reason why its placed on 4th and not 3rd is because of Hurricane Katrina’s 700 missing individuals that are not counted among the dead.

5. Sea Islands Hurricane

August 27, 1893

The year of 1893 saw not one, not two, but three hurricanes batter the east coast of United States. This particular one would strike land at Savannah, Georgia on August 27. An estimated 1,000 to 2,000 people were killed in the devastation, putting it on-par with Hurricane Katrina, although the exact figures might never be known. Although the hurricane caused massive destruction, American Red Cross could not arrive until October 1st because of ongoing efforts following another hurricane that had hit South Carolina in June. This interestingly is also the storm that made United States Life-Saving Service Keeper Dunbar Davis famous.

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